A molecular presentation can move quickly from one view or idea to the next. When you are explaining a structural detail, comparing moments in a process, or simply giving your audience time to take in a scene, a presentation that continues automatically can make it hard to keep everyone together.
The Stop animation offers a straightforward way to control that pace: it stops the presentation at a chosen frame. You can use it to divide a continuous presentation into slide-like sections, with a deliberate pause between them.
Build a pause into the timeline
In SAMSON, open the Animator and find the Stop animation effect in the Animation panel. Double-click the effect to add its keyframe at the current frame. If the pause should happen later or earlier, move the keyframe to the intended point in the timeline.
This makes the Stop animation useful when a presentation has a natural point where viewers need a moment: after arriving at a particular frame, before moving on to the next part, or while you explain what they are looking at. Rather than trying to time a spoken explanation to a sequence that keeps running, you can place the stop where you want the presentation to wait.
A simple planning method
Before adding stops, think through the presentation as a sequence of short sections. For each section, decide what the audience should notice and where you want them to have time to look. Then place a Stop keyframe at the frame where that section should pause. This small planning step can help turn a long animation into a clearer, more manageable walkthrough.
For example, you might want to pause after showing an overall molecular view, then continue to a later frame for a closer explanation. The important point is not to add a stop at every possible moment, but to use one where a pause supports the explanation. A few intentional pauses can make the sequence easier to follow without interrupting its flow too often.
Keep the timing adjustable
You do not have to get the timing perfect on the first try. Stop animation keyframes can be moved, so you can adjust the pause point as you review the presentation. If the presentation stops before the audience has reached the key part of the explanation, move the keyframe later. If it continues past the moment you want to discuss, move it earlier.
When the presentation reaches a Stop keyframe, resume it by pressing Space or clicking the Play button in the Animator controls. That gives you a simple rhythm: let the presentation reach the chosen frame, discuss the view, and continue when you are ready.
Stop or pause?
SAMSON also has a separate Pause animation. If you are choosing between the two, consult its documentation to understand which behavior suits your presentation. The Stop animation is specifically described as stopping the presentation at a given frame, with playback resumed using Space or the Play button.
A well-placed stop is a small timeline detail, but it can solve a familiar presentation problem: needing the animation to wait while people look, listen, or ask a question. For the setup steps and related controls, see the Stop animation documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.